The Run Down - A Three Ringed Circus

Starting in May each year, a great deal of the St. Augustine running community starts to cross-train and stay out of the heat by training for and competing in triathlons. At the top of the St. Augustine triathlon pyramid are Dirk Bockel (Olympian and professional) and Libby Bergman (age group champion and Half Ironman World Champion Qualifier). I start with these two because I credit them as the key motivators to this past weekend. Early in the summer, my fiance (Heather) and I went to the Disney Half Ironman to watch and cheer for these two while they raced. Beyond the spectacle of the event (hundreds of ripped, tanned and fit people all wearing space-aged gear on carbon fiber bikes), these two out-performed the field.

Libby won her age group and secured a spot in the World Championships in November while Dirk was third overall winning a nice bit of prize money. This was enough to hook Heather! She was going to do her first triathlon.

After a summer of P90X, running with the ACRR, biking with the St. Augustine Cycling crew and an "infrequent" swim here and there at Anastasia Athletic Club, Heather was ready to line up at the third leg of the Jacksonville Triathlon Series. As a first-timer she started in the sixth of six waves. A wave is a mass start of chaos where about 100 people charge into the ocean all aiming at the same buoy. You cannot prepare yourself for the kicking and grabbing and punching that goes on.

Next comes the bike! Heather got her first bike with brakes and gears about two months ago. A beach cruiser wasn't going to cut it. She performed like a champ averaging just under 20mph and then ran a steady 3 mile run. She ended up seventh in the first-timer division, but the best part is she finished with a huge smile on her face and was immediately talking of all the ways that she could go faster. She's hooked!

If you're tired of the just running, this is a great way to tri (ha ha) something new!